In line with its constant endeavour to anticipate customer needs and improve service levels, Al-Futtaim Motors, exclusive distributor of Toyota in the UAE, has launched T-Connect, a new interactive telematics service designed to provide added convenience and comfort to Toyota customers.

The United Arab Emirates becomes the world’s third country, after Japan and Thailand, to launch the first phase of Toyota’s next generation telematics.

Whether driving downtown, in the desert, or on public transport, T-Connect users are now able to find their destination with a simple call to the bi-lingual operators who will be able to locate them and direct them via voice guided interactive maps. The maps provide a choice of five different routes based on the user’s current location including the shortest route, the best route and a toll-free route.

“Today, technology is synonymous with convenience and added comfort. Through T-Connect we will establish a seamless contact point with Toyota customers, at all times, so that they feel safer and more secure while on the move,” said Jon Williams, Managing Director Al-Futtaim Motors at the launch event.

He added: “This application enables us to extend the scope of navigation services, currently only fitted to around 12% of our cars, to every single new Toyota customer. For instance, our entry level Yaris customers can now enjoy the same convenience of navigation technology, mobility and other functions of the application as experienced by our top range Land Cruiser customers.”

Moreover, Toyota has personalised the T-Connect service for its UAE customers by incorporating relevant features such as the off-road tracking service which identifies the off-roaders’ present location and helps them find their way back by retracing the route they took.

It also offers other handy features such as Spot Search to help users look for landmarks in their city; My Spot, which stores favourite and frequent locations in one file and T-Connect Inbox, enabling Al-Futtaim Motors’ customers to receive the latest Toyota updates, offers and promotions. Two further useful features are also available, the prayer time notification and the Qibla compass.

Operating from the heart of Dubai, the 24×7 bi-lingual call centre is servicing the entire Middle East region as the new service will eventually cover all GCC countries as well as Jordan and Lebanon.

T-Connect is available for all new Toyota customers free of charge for the first year. However owners of older Toyota vehicles as well as other motorists can also benefit from the application which is available at the Apple Store and the Android Market Place.